Kroger Teams With Cellfire To Offer Mobile Discounts

Cellfire Inc., a nationwide mobile coupon and discount service, has partnered with grocery giant Kroger Co. to supply consumers with mobile grocery coupons for products made by more than half a dozen leading consumer product manufacturers.

The new program will allow consumers to save on individual grocery items using their mobile phone. The program is presently available to Kroger consumers in Georgia, South Carolina, Eastern Tennessee and Alabama, and it includes savings on dozens of brands from leading consumer product manufacturers such as Clorox, ConAgra, Del Monte, General Mills, Kimberly-Clark and Unilever.

"We’re constantly seeking new innovations to provide our customers with more ways to save," said Glynn Jenkins, director of communications of the Kroger’s Atlanta division. "With Cellfire, the ability to access grocery coupons using their cell phone helps our customers to save both time and money, resulting in a satisfying shopping experience that truly delivers on our ‘customer first’ promise."

To participate in the program, consumers must register with Cellfire and link their Cellfire account to their Kroger Plus card. They can then view coupons within Cellfire on their phone, and the coupons they select are automatically loaded to their Kroger Plus card.

Consumers can shop using their Kroger Plus card at checkout, and discounts on qualifying items are automatically applied. Once the coupon is used or it expires, it is automatically deleted from the consumer’s phone and Kroger Plus card.

Cellfire said fraud and “mal-redemption” is less likely with their program because redemption occurs digitally in a closed-loop. Advertisers also have complete control and can quickly present new coupons based on performance from prior offers.

"Mobile couponing is a winning initiative for us,” said Karl Schmidt, director of promotional marketing at General Mills. “Cell phones are always with the consumer and association with the grocer savings card makes it simple and convenient. Plus, mobile is an exciting new medium that extends our reach and influence to a younger generation of shoppers who are less inclined to clip coupons from newspapers, circulars, or direct mail."

"By partnering with the number one traditional grocery chain in the U.S. and serving coupons from the top packaged goods manufacturers in the world, we’re making it even easier for consumers to stretch their dollar during this period of economic uncertainty," said Brent Dusing, CEO of Cellfire. "At a time when consumers are most interested in saving with coupons, we’re delivering a solution that literally provides savings in the palm of their hand through coupons on their mobile phone."

Founded in January 2005, Cellfire is headquartered in San Jose, Calif. The company’s Web site is www.cellfire.com.

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